Carbazole compounds and medicinal use thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to a carbazole compound 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole, its salts, especially pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and solvates such as hydrates, alcoholates of the salts thereof as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing same which are useful in treating aggression and/or psychoses in humans.

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 016,914 filed Mar. 2, 1979.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds having valuable antiggression and antipsychotic properties, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in human medicine.

PRIOR ART

Australian Pat. No. 201630 and French Pat. No. 1167510 describe as having anti-epileptic properties carbazoles of formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents a divalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radical with a straight or branched chain containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R₁ represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl or an aryl or araliphatic group, Y and Y₁ are repectively a hydrogen or halogen atom or a lower alkyl, alkoxy, aryl or aryloxy group, the ring containing Y or Y₁ may contain substituents additional to Y and Y₁ and one or more of the carbon atoms of the piperazine ring may carry a substituent in the form of a methyl group.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that a particular compound 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole (sometimes named as cis-9-[3-(3,5-dimethylpiperazinyl)propyl]carbazole or 9-[3-(cis-3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]carbazole) of formula (A): ##STR2## hereinafter referred to as the "Carbazole", its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts unexpectedly exhibit valuable anti-aggressive and anti-pyschotic properties rendering them useful for the treatment of aggression and psychoses in humans. The compounds herein unexpectedly do not exhibit the toxic side-effects, e.g. dyslexia or sedative action associated with anti-psycotics such as chlorpromazine and the like.

As used herein, the term "treatment" is meant to include the prophylactic administration of the "Carbazole" to a patient (human) who has already been identified as once having exhibited aggressive or psychotic symptoms as well as the therapeutic administration of the "Carbazole" to a patient (human) exhibiting aggressive or psychotic symptoms. The pharmacological test procedure used to demonstrate anti-aggressive and anti-psychotic properties of the "Carbazole" is described by McKenzie, G. M. in Brain Research, 34, 323 (1971). In this test, the "Carbazole" antagonised apomorphine-induced aggression in the rat and, as a further indication of its antipsychotic and anti-aggressive properties, it was found to suppress the instinctive muricidal (i.e. mouse killing) behaviour of rats (see Leaf et. al., Aggressive Behaviour. edited by S. Garattini and E. B. Sigg, pages 120-131. John Wiley and Sons. Inc., New York, 1969)

The potency of the "Carbazole"s' anti-aggressive and anti-psychotic properties has been found to depend on the particular positioning of its methyl substituents. For example, it has been found more potent than either the corresponding non-methylated compound or any of the analogous 4-methyl, 3,4,5-trimethyl or 3,5-trans-dimethyl compounds.

The "Carbazole" is particularly valuable since its anti-psychotic and anti-aggressive action is substantially free from undesirable side-effects such as sedation, catalepsy and extrapyramidal dysfunction associated with currently used anti-psychotics such as the phenothiazines. An indication that the "Carbazole" does not interfere with extra-pyramidal function is its failure to antagonise apomorphine induced stereotyped behaviour in the rat see Andien, N. E., J. Psychiat. Res., 11, 97, 1974. There is also significantly less anti-cholinergic and anti-histamine activity associated with the "Carbazole's" action than with the phenothiazines.

Whilst the useful biological properties of the "Carbazole" reside in the basic moiety, it is capable of forming acid addition salts, and all such salts are included within the scope of the invention. Non-pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be used as intermediates for conversion to corresponding pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are the halides, especially chloride, sulphate and anions of organic acids such as tosylate, methanesulphonate, tartrate and maleate. In addition, the base moiety of the "Carbazole" can form well-defined solvates of the salts e.g. hydrates, as well as solvates of alcohols e.g. ethanol, methanol and these solvates are also included within the scope of the invention.

The "Carbazole" may be synthesised by any method known in the art for the synthesis of compounds having an analogous structure.

1. A preferred synthesis involves linking the alkylene chain to either or both of the carbazole and piperazine rings. This may be done by reacting a compound of formula (II), (IIA) or (IIB) as appropriate, wherein each Z is a leaving atom or group; ##STR3## with carbazole, 3,5-dimethylpiperazine or both carbazole and 3,5-dimethylpiperazine, respectively. Any atom or group may be used for the variable Z which enables substitution to take place on the appropriate amino group; for example, halo (preferably chloro), arylsulphonyloxy (preferably p-toluenesulphonyloxy) or alkylsulphonyloxy (preferably methanesulphonyloxy).

Although compounds (II) and (IIB) will react directly with carbazole it is advantageious to use a carbazole derivative; particularly suitable derivatives are those with alkali or alkaline earth metals, especially lithium, sodium, potassium, zinc, cadmium and calcium, although carbazole magnesium halide, e.g., iodide, may also be used.

The alkali metal carbazoles are conveniently prepared by reacting carbazole with the appropriate alkali metal hydride or amide in an inert, preferably polar, aprotic solvent such as liquid ammonia, dimethylformamide or dimethylsulphoxide; other solvents which may be suitable include hydrocarbons, e.g., alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatic compounds. The same reaction medium may then be used for effecting N-substitution which is preferably carried out with heating. It is advisable that the N-substitution take place in solution under an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen.

Alternatively, the compound of formula (II) may be reacted with carbazole in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide or alkali metal alkoxide in a polar solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, water or the corresponding alkanol as appropriate; for example potassium tert-butoxide in tert-butanol.

When 3,5-dimethylpiperazine is reacted with a compound of formula (IIA) this may be done in a polar aprotic solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethylsulphoxide, or acetonitrile or a protic solvent such as water or an aliphatic alcohol.

The intermediates of formula (II) are readily obtained from the corresponding alcohol by conventional techniques. For example, the alcohol may be converted to the chloride by reaction with thionyl chloride. The alcohol may itself be made by reaction of a substituted alcohol of formula Z-(CH₂)₃ -OH, wherein Z has the same meaning as in formula (II), with 3,5-dimethylpiperazine.

Synthesis of intermediates of formula (IIA) may be by N-substitution analogous to the reaction of compound (IIB) with carbazole to produce a compound of formula (I).

A modification of the previously described synthesis is to use intermediates of formula (II) or (IIA) which, instead of using a leaving group Z, have a double bond between the terminal and penultimate carbon atoms; thus effecting an addition, rather than a substitution, reaction. The reaction may be effected at high temperatures and pressures in the presence of an alkali, such as in an autoclave at a temperature up to 120° for example about 115° C. with an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide. Desirably an equimolar amount of alkali is used.

Similarly intermediates of formula (II) and (IIA) may themselves be obtained by an addition reaction involving a Michael-type condensation of a piperazine or carbazole, respectively with acrylic acid or a derivative thereof such as acid halide, ester, amide or nitrile. The resulting compound may then be reduced to the corresponding alcohol.

2. The "Carbazole" may also be synthesized by reduction of a compound of formula (III): ##STR4## wherein Y¹ and Y² together form oxo, thioxo or imino, or Y¹ is hydroxy and Y² is hydrogen, and the groups Y³ and Y⁴ are defined in the same way as Y¹ and Y², with the proviso that both Y¹ and Y³ may not be hydroxy, except that when Y¹ to Y⁴ do not include a nitrogen atom the reduction takes places in the presence of ammonia or an ammonium salt such as ammonium chloride.

Many reducing agents are suitable for this purpose depending on the particular case concerned. For example, hydrogen in the presence of (Raney) nickel or palladium, or zinc in the presence of an acid. Or, after an initial cyclisation of the compound of formula (III), lithium aluminium hydride, Vitride®, diborane and other aluminium and boron hydrides known to reduce amides may be used.

When, in formula (III), one of Y¹ and Y² and one of Y³ and Y⁴ is hydroxy the compound is readily cyclised in the presence of ammonia to the "Carbazole" without the aid of a reducing agent. Reaction conditions may be selected from those known in the art as suitable for ammonolysis reactions, for example, heating under pressure in the presence of a catalyst such as copper chromite or alumina, optionally in the presence of an inert solvent.

The intermediates of formula (III) may be prepared by reaction of a compund of formula (V) with 3-(9-carbazolyl)propylamine of formula (IV): ##STR5## wherein Z, Y¹ and Y² are as defined above in formulae (II) and (III) respectively; in a molar ratio of 2 to 1. The reaction is conveniently carried out in an inert polar solvent at an elevated temperature, and in the presence of an acid acceptor such as tri-ethylamine to sequester hydrogen ions which are liberated in the reaction.

Intermediates of formula (III) suitable for conversion to compounds of formula (I) by ammonolysis may themselves be prepared by reacting the amine (IV) with 1,2-epoxypropane of formula (VI): ##STR6## The reaction will proceed if the reactants are simply heated together at about 100° C., but optionally a lower alkanol is used as a solvent in which case a lower temperature such as from 45° to 60° C. may be used. By lower alkanol is meant an alkanol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms for example, methanol, ethanol, butanol or hexanol.

The compound of formula (IV) may be obtained by ammonolysis of the corresponding alcohol or halide, preferably using a large excess of ammonia under pressure often in the presence of a catalyst such as copper chromite or alumina, or reduction of the appropriate nitrile or amide. The desired alcohol, halide, nitrile or amide may be prepared by methods described above for the preparation of compounds of formula (IIA).

3. A number of syntheses of the "Carbazole" involve, as the last step, the reduction of an analogous carbonyl compound of formula (VII): ##STR7##

(a) wherein the two hydrogens on one or more of the carbons numbered 1 to 4 are replaced by an oxo group (Most reagents capable of reducing an amide carbonyl group may be used for example hydrogenation at elevated temperature and pressure using nickel, platinum, palladium or copper chromite as a catalyst; concentrated hydriodic acid with red phosphorous; and particularly suitable are lithium aluminium hydride or diborane. Electrolytic reduction may also be used.); or

(b) wherein the two hydrogens on the carbon numbered 5 are replaced by an oxo group. [Most reagents capable of reducing a ketone group may be used, for example hydrogenation using nickel, platinum, palladium or copper chromite as a catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure; zinc and hydrochloric acid (Clemmensen); hydrazine in the presence of a base (Wolff-Kishner)].

The compounds of formula (VII) wherein the oxo group is on either of carbons numbered 3 or 4 may be made by a reacton analogous to that described above involving a compound of formula (IIA), but using a substituted piperazine of formula (VIII): ##STR8## A convenient preparation of (VIII) is by reaction of a compound of formula (IX) with a large excess of 1,2-diaminopropane of formula (X): ##STR9## wherein W is a leaving group such as halo e.g. chloro or bromo, or alkylthio. The reaction may be carried out by simply heating the reactants although it is preferable to use an inert solvent such as acetonitrile or dioxane, and it is particularly advantageous to use a lower alkanol such as ethanol as a solvent.

Allternatively, compounds of formula (VII) may be prepared by reacting a piperazine or carbazole, or a reactive derivative thereof such as are described hereinabove, with an acrylyl halide such as acrylyl chloride or alkyl acrylate to provide a compound of formula C/P.CO.CH:CH₂ wherein C/P is 3,5-dimethylpiperazinyl or carbazolyl, respectively, followed by reaction with carbazole or 3,5-dimethylpiperazine as appropriate.

The compound of formula (VII) wherein the oxo group is on the carbon numbered 5 may be prepared, for example, by the reaction of α, α'-dichloroacetone with 2,5-dimethylpiperazine in ethanol to give 4-(3-chloro-2-oxopropyl)-2,5-dimethylpiperazine which in turn is caused to react with carbazole in dimethylformamide in the presence of a strong base such as sodium hydride.

4. The "Carbazole" may also be made by formation of the carbazole nucleus as the final step, for example, from the corresponding phenothiazine analogues by heating with copper.

Alternatively, the diphenylamine of formula (XI): ##STR10## may be ring-closed by the reaction of a palladium (II) salt in a polar solvent. The preferred palladium (II) salts are the acetate and chloride which are generally used in equimolar amount with the diphenylamine. Preferred solvents are acetic acid, acetonitrile, sulpholane and especially trifluoroacetic acid, and the reaction is advantageously effected at an elevated temperature up to the reflux temperature of the reaction medium.

The reaction is conveniently carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of a strong acid or boron trifluoride.

A further synthesis of the "Carbazole" is by oxidation of the corresponding 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro derivative (or the analogous octahydro compound). Any conventional dehydrogenating agent may be used provided that it does not oxidize any of the nitrogens in the remainder of the molecule, for example Pb₃ O₄, chromic oxide, alumina, a quinone such as tetrachloroquinone, or catalytically over hot platinum or palladium.

Synthesis of the intermediate phenothiazines, diphenylamines and tetrahydrocarbazoles may be done using conventional techniques well-known in the art.

5. Completion of the substituted piperazine ring may also be used to synthesize the "Carbazole."

The compound of formula (XII) may be reacted with a compound of formula (XIII): ##STR11## wherein X is a leaving group such as halide, preferably iodo or bromo, hydroxy, sulphate or a sulphonate ester such as a p-toluenesulphonate. The reaction may be carried out with heating in a polar solvent such as acetone or a lower alkanol by which is meant alkanols having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as ethanol or butanol.

The "Carbazole," its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates of these pharmaceutically acceptable salts are useful in the control of psychotic and aggressive conditions in humans. For example, it is useful for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of schizophrenia, mania or senile, involutional or organic psychoses as well as depressive psychosis.

The "Carbazole" may also be used in the prophylaxis and treatment of aggressive behaviour. Such behaviour may be associated with other disorders such as psychotic disorders and personality disorders as well as, in children, autism and hyperkinetics.

The "Carbazole," its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates potentiates the locomotor activity of d-amphetamine, a property showed by most tricyclic antidepressant agents. This potentiation of d-amphetamine suggests that the "Carbazole" may have antidepressant activity in man.

A further use for the "Carbazole," its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates of said salts is in the control of aggressive symptoms which may be associated with mentally retarded and/or behaviourally disturbed patients, or of aggression associated with epileptic disorders, acute or chronic organic brain syndromes, alcoholism, narcotic addiction and other forms of aggression of either known or unknown etiology.

The "Carbazole" compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates of these pharmaceutically acceptable salts are administered to mammals, e.g., humans, preferably orally at a dose of 1 mg to 30 mg/kg (calculated as base) of bodyweight of the mammal being treated for either aggression or psychosis and most preferably 2 to 5 mg/kg is preferably administered orally at this dose. The "Carbazole" compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates are preferably given three times daily at the aforementioned dose for these conditions. For intramuscular injection the dose is generally one-half the oral dose. For example in schizophrenia a suitable dose would be in the range of 1 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg and most preferably 2 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg, for example as a unit dose of from 60 mg to 900 mg. Conveniently the unit dose is administered one or more times daily, for example as one or more tablets each containing from 10 to 300, conveniently 60, mg of the "Carbazole," its pharmaceutically salts or its solvates taken three times a day.

Although, for use in medicine, the "Carbazole" or a salt thereof may be administered as a raw chemical, it is preferably presented with an acceptable carrier therefor as a pharmaceutical composition. The carrier must of course be `acceptable" in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the composition and not deleterious to the recipient of the composition. The carrier may be a solid or a liquid or a mixture of solid and liquid substance, and is preferably formulated with the Carbazole or a salt thereof as a unit-dose composition, for example, a tablet, capsule or cachet for oral administration or a suppository for rectal administration. Other pharmaceutically active substances may also be present in compositions of the present invention, and the compositions may be formulated by any of the well-known techniques of pharmacy consisting basically of admixture of the components. For example, tablets may be made by granulating, grinding, stirring, coating, milling, tumbling, compressing or molding.

Unit dose compositions, for rectal or parenteral administration conveniently contain from 5 mg to 75 mg of the "Carbazole" base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof calculated as base.

For the oral administration, fine powders or granules of the compounds may contain diluents and dispersing and surface active agents, and may be presented in a draught in water or in a syrup, in capsules or cachets in the dry state or in an aqueous or non-aqueous suspension, when a suspending agent may also be included; in tablets, preferably made from granules of the active ingredient with a diluent, by compression with binders and lubricants; or in a suspension in water or a syrup or an oil or in a water/oil emulsion, when flavoring, preserving, suspending, thickening and emulsifying agents may also be included. The granules or the tablets may be coated, and the tablets may be scored.

For parenteral administration (by intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection), the "Carbazole" preferably as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate may be presented in unit dose or multi-dose containers in aqueous or non-aqueous injection solutions which may contain antioxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the compounds isotonic with the blood; or in aqueous or non-aqueous suspensions when suspending agents and thickening agents may also be included; extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be made from sterile powders, granules or tablets which may contain diluents, dispersing and surface active agents, binders and lubricants. The "Carbazole," its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and its pharmaceutically acceptable solvates are also indicated as having antidepressant activity at the same dosages as given heretofore.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that what we will claim in accordance with this invention may comprise any novel feature described herein, principally but not exclusively as follows:

(a) 9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole, acid addition salts thereof and their solvates, e.g., hydrates and alcoholates.

(b) A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound defined in paragraph (a) above in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.

(c) A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of a mammal e.g., human) which is subject to an aggression, psychotic or behavioral condition comprising administration to said mammal of a nontoxic, effective anti-aggression or anti-psychotic amount of the "Carbazole" or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof as hereinbefore defined.

(d) A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of a mammal exhibiting aggression or aggressive symptoms comprising administration to said mammal of a non-toxic effective anti-aggressive amount of the "Carbazole" or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

(e) A method of preparing the Carbazole or a salt thereof substantially as hereinbefore described.

(f) A method of preparing a composition described in paragraph (b) hereinabove comprising admixture of the ingredients.

The following Examples are given by way of illustration of the invention: they are not to be construed as a limitation thereof. In these Examples all temperature are in degrees Celsius and vacuum distillation was effected on a steam bath using a pressure of about 20 mm Hg, unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate. A. 3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propanol dihydrochloride

2,6-cis-Dimethylpiperazine (114.2 g, 1.0 mole), 3-chloropropanol (94.5 g, 1.0 mole), sodium carbonate (105 g) and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (400 ml) were stirred under reflux for four hours. The reaction mixture was filtered warm, and the filtrate stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation.

The resulting solid was dissolved in ethanol (500 ml), and this solution saturated with dry hydrogen chloride. The white precipitate was collected, dried in vacuo, and used as the hydrochloride salt in the next step without further purification, m.p. 240°-241°.

B. 3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl chloride dihydrochloride

Thionyl chloride (300 g) was slowly added to 3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propanol dihydrochloride (200 g). The reaction was gently refluxed for an hour followed by removal of excess thionyl chloride by vacuum distillation. The resulting solid was washed with several portions of benzene then several portions of ether, m.p. 291°-292°.

C. 9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate

To a slurry of sodium hydride (1.6 mole) made from 70 g of 57% dispersion in mineral oil and 200 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) was added a solution of carbazole (83.5 g, 0.5 mole) in DMF (150 ml). When hydrogen was no longer evolved a slurry of 3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl chloride dihydrochloride (131 g, 0.5 mole) in DMF (200 ml) was added to the reaction at a slow rate. The reaction was run under nitrogen using a demand system with an oil bubbler. There was some foaming as the slurry was added and the rate of addition was adjusted to keep this to a minimum. After addition was completed the reaction was heated (90°-120°) for 16 to 18 hours, cooled, filtered and stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The viscous residue was warmed with 2 liters of 1 N hydrochloric acid, cooled, and washed with ether (500 ml). The ether layer which contained any unreacted carbazole was discarded. The aqueous layer was treated with activated charcoal and filtered through Celite®. The filtrate was made basic to Alkacid® paper using sodium hydroxide, and then extracted with ether four times. Both ether and aqueous layers were clear at the end of the extraction. The ether layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate or molecular sieves and the hydrochloride salt of 9-[3-(3,5-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole was precipitated by passing dry hydrogen chloride into the solution. The precipitate was collected and recrystallized from ethyl acetate or ethanol/ether mixture giving 9-[3-(3,5-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate (50 g), m.p. 288°-290° C.

EXAMPLE 2

The compound synthesized according to Example 1 was administered intraperitoneally to rats to assess its inhibition of muricidal activity and apomorphine-induced aggression. It was found to have ED₅₀ values of 15 mg/kg (anti-muricidal) and 12.5 mg/kg (anti-aggressive).

EXAMPLE 3

The compound of Example 1 was administered to male mice to ascertain the oral and intravenous LD₅₀ 's which were found to be as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Oral          Intravenous                                                      ______________________________________                                         977 mg/kg     31 mg/kg                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 9-[3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole.

9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate (150 g), anhydrous ethanol containing about 5% methanol (680 ml), water (275 ml) and 10 N sodium hydroxide (76 ml) were combined and heated to effect solution. Water (500 ml) was slowly added to the hot solution which was then allowed to cool slowly to room temperature. The mixture was further cooled to 0° for one hour and then filtered. The product was washed thoroughly with water and dried to give 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole (110 g, 92% of theory), m.p. 107°-109°.

Calculated for C₂₁ H₃₀ Cl₂ N₃ O₀.5.1/2H₂ O: C 78.46, H 8.47, N 13.07. Found: C 78.43, H 8.46, N 13.05.

EXAMPLE 5 9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole monohydrochloride

The 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate (5 g) of Example 1 was dissolved in water (250 ml), and the solution was neutralized to pH 7 with 5 N sodium hydroxide. The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried under reduced pressure to give 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazine)propyl]carbazole monohydrochloride (3.7 g), m.p. 309°-311° (dec.), which had the following elemental analysis:

Calculated for C₂₁ H₂₈ N₃ Cl: C, 70.47; H, 7.89; N, 11.74; Cl, 9.91. Found: C, 70.53; H, 7.93; N, 11.69; Cl, 9.83.

EXAMPLE 6 9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole maleate

The 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole (10 g) of Example 4 was dissolved in warm acetone (71 ml). Maleic acid (3.7 g) was slowly added, causing precipitate formation. The resulting slurry was stirred while heating at reflux for 10 min. It was then cooled to room temperature and filtered. The collected precipitate was washed with acetone and then recrystallized from water to give 9-[3-(cis-dimethylpiperazinopropyl]carbazole maleate (10.5 g), m.p. 162°-163° (dec.), which had the following elemental analysis:

Calculated for C₂₅ H₃₁ N₃ O₄ : C, 68.63; H, 7.14; N, 9.60. Found: C, 68.91; H, 7.25; N, 9.74.

EXAMPLE 7 9-[3-(3,5-cis-Dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole lactate

The 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole (10 g) of Example 4 was dissolved in warm SD3A (ethanol containing about 5% methanol--50 ml) and succinic acid (3.8 g) was slowly added. The mixture was stirred and heated at reflux for 10 min. and then cooled to 5°. The product was collected by filtration and crystallized from SD3A/water (95/5 v/v) to give 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole three-fourths succinate (10.4 g), m.p. 175.5°-176.5° (stoichiometry confirmed by nmr), which had the following elemental analysis:

Calculated for C₂₄ H₃₁.5 N₃ O₃ : C, 70.30; H, 7.74; N, 10.24. Found: C, 70.21; H, 7.71; N, 10.20.

EXAMPLE 8 cis-9-[3,5-Dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-carbazole acetate one-quarter hydrate

To the 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole (10 g) of Example 4 dissolved in hot toluene (70 ml) was added acetic acid (2.0 ml). The mixture was stirred and cooled to 2°. The resulting product was collected by filtration, washed with cyclohexane (35 ml) and dried under reduced pressure to give cis-9-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]carbazole acetate one-quarter hydrate (10.4 g), m.p. 144°-146°, which had the following elemental analysis:

Calculated for C₂₃ H₃₁.5 N₃ O₂.25 : C, 71.56; H, 8.22; N, 10.88. Found: C, 71.57; H, 8.08; N, 10.84.

EXAMPLE 9 cis-9-[3,5-Dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]-carbazole sulfate monohydrate

To the cis-9-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]carbazole (10 g) of Example 4 dissolved in warm acetone (100 ml) was slowly added with stirring a solution of sulfuric acid (3.05 g) in water (5 ml), causing immediate precipitation. The sturry was stirred at reflux for 10 min. and then cooled to 20°. The product was collected by filtration and washed with acetone (20 ml). It was reslurried in water (70 ml), filtered, washed with acetone (40 ml) and dried under reduced pressured to give cis-9-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)propyl]carbazole sulfate monohydrate (12.9 g), m.p. 243°-246° (dec.), which had the following analysis:

Calculated for C₂₁ H₃₁ N₃ O₅ S: C, 57.46; H, 7.14; N, 9.60. Found: C, 57.75; H, 7.10; N, 9.47.

EXAMPLE 10

Following the procedure of Example 6, 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole was allowed to react with an equimolar amount of the appropriate acid to give the following salts:

9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole fumarate

9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole citrate

9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole L-malate

9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole L-tartrate

9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole methanesulfonate

Pharmaceutical Formulations

In the following examples of pharmaceutical formulations according to the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, the term "Active Ingredient" represents the "Carbazole" hereinbefore defined or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt solvate thereof. The stated dose represents that appropriate for the base; if a salt is used the dose should of course be increased appropriately.

EXAMPLE 11 Tablet

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient         Amount per tablet (mg)                                      ______________________________________                                         Active Ingredient (compound                                                                       60.0                                                        of Ex. 5)                                                                      Lactose            125.0                                                       Corn Starch        50.0                                                        Polyvinylpyrrolidone                                                                              3.0                                                         Stearic acid       1.0                                                         Magnesium stearate 1.0                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 12 Capsule

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient        Amount per capsule (mg)                                      ______________________________________                                         Active Ingredient (compound of                                                                   60.0                                                         Ex. 6)                                                                         Lactose           174.0                                                        Corn Starch       174.0                                                        Stearic acid      2.0                                                          ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 13 Ampoule

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient       Amount per ampoule                                            ______________________________________                                         Active Ingredient (as a                                                                         60.0 mg                                                       dihydrochloride salt of                                                        compound of Ex. 6)                                                             Water for injection, q.s.                                                                        1.0 ml                                                       ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 14 Suppository

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient               Amount per suppository                                ______________________________________                                         Active Ingredient (compound of Ex. 1)                                                                60.0 mg                                                  Theobtema oil (Cocoa Butter), q.s.                                                                  2.0 g                                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 15 Tablet

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient           Amount per tablet (mg)                                    ______________________________________                                         Active Ingredient (compound of Ex. 4)                                                               30                                                        Lactose              125.0                                                     Corn Starch          50.0                                                      Polyvinylpyrrolidone 3.0                                                       Stearic acid         1.0                                                       Magnesium stearate   1.0                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Table I shows the significant therapeutic advantage of the "Carbazole" given as the dihydrochloride hemihydrate of Ex. 1 (compound A) over a prior art carbazole derivative, 9-[3-(4-methylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole give as the dihydrochloride (compound B).

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparison of activity and toxicity of the                                     "Carbazole" (cpd. A) with that of 9-[3-(4-methylpipera-                        zino)propyl]carbazole (cpd. B).                                                Antiaggressive                                                                       LD.sub.50 (mg/kg)                                                                           ED.sub.50 (mg/kg)                                                                           Therapeutic Ratio                              Cpd.  Rat. p.o.    Rat, p.o     LD.sub.50 /ED.sub.50                           ______________________________________                                         A     957          48           20                                             B     830          75           11                                             ______________________________________                                    

Table II summarized inter alia several other substantial advantages of the "Carbazole" over compound B. The minimum dose (in the mouse) of the "Carbazole" at which loss of righting reflex occurs (ED min.) is about three times that of compound B. Similarly, muscle tone decrease (in the rat) is observed with compound B at a much lower dose than with the "Carbazole."

Table II also compares the anticonvulsant activity of the two compounds and the commercial anticonvulsant phenytoin (Dilantin®). Phenytoin is almost 2.5 times as active as cpd. B and 5 times as active as the "Carbazole" (epd. A). The level of anticonvulsant activity shown by cpd. B is marginal for consideration in this end use. The "Carbazole," with less than half the anticonvulsant activity of cpd. B, would be considered to have insufficient potential value as an anticonvulsant to warrant further consideration for this use.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         A comparison of some properties of cpd. A.                                     cpd. B and phenytoin.                                                                  Loss of Righting                                                                            Muscle Tone                                                                               Anticonvulsant                                         Reflex ED min.                                                                              Decrease ED                                                                               Activity (MES).sup.(a)                                 (mg/kg) Mouse                                                                               min. (mg/kg)                                                                              ED.sub.50 (mg/kg)                              Cpd.    i.p.         Rat, i.p.  Mouse, i.p.                                    ______________________________________                                         A       160          125        43                                             b        50          50         20                                             Phenytoin                                                                              >100         --         8.5                                            ______________________________________                                          .sup.(a) Maximal Electroshock Test (Woodbury and Davenport, Arch. Int.         Pharmacodyn. Ther., 92, 97-107 (1952).                                    

What is claimed:
 1. A pharmaceutical composition for use in treating aggression or psychosis or both which comprises an effective non-toxic antiaggression amount or an effective non-toxic antipsychosis, or an effective amount for treating both aggression and psychosis of a compound 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl] carbazole, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.
 2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the compound in the composition, calculated as base, is 10 to 300 mg.
 3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the compound present is an effective nontoxic antiaggression amount and the composition is for use in treating aggression.
 4. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the compound present is an effective nontoxic antipsychotic amount and is for use in treating psychosis.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 wherein the amount of the compound in the composition, calculated as base, is 10 to 300 mg.
 6. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 wherein the amount of the compound present is an effective nontoxic antiaggression amount.
 7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 in which the compound is the mono or dihydrochloride salt.
 8. The composition of claim 1 in a form for oral administration.
 9. The composition of claim 1 in which the salt comprises anions selected from the class consisting of hydrochloride, sulphate, tosylate, lactic methanesulphonate, tartrate and maleate.
 10. The composition of claim 1 in which the salt is the dihydrochloride, succinate, lactate, maleate, and hydrochloride.
 11. The composition of claim 1 in which the composition comprises said salt and said carrier therefor.
 12. A pharmaceutical preparation in dosage unit form adapted for administration to obtain an anti-aggressive effect or an anti-psychosis effect, comprising per dosage unit, an anti-aggressive or anti-psychosis effective nontoxic amount of a compound 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino) propyl] carbazole, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.
 13. A pharmaceutical preparation in accordance with claim 12 in which the amount is 10 to 900 mg calculated as base.
 14. A pharmaceutical preparation in accordance with claim 12 in a form adapted for oral or parenteral administration.
 15. A pharmaceutical preparation in accordance with claim 13 in a form adapted for oral or parenteral administration.
 16. A pharmaceutical preparation in accordance with claim 12 in the form of a tablet or capsule.
 17. A pharmaceutical preparation in accordance with claim 13 in the form of a tablet or capsule.
 18. A pharmaceutical composition in accordance with claim 12 in which the dihydrochloride salt of the compound is the active ingredient.
 19. A pharmaceutical composition in accordance with claim 13 in which the dihydrochloride salt of the compound is the active ingredient.
 20. A pharmaceutical composition in dosage unit form adapted for administration to a human to obtain a therapeutic effect comprising from about 10 to 900 mg of a compound 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl] carbazole, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutical diluent.
 21. The preparation in accordance with claim 20 in which the dihydrochloride salt of the compound is the active ingredient.
 22. The method of treating aggression in a human which has been identified as exhibiting aggressive symptoms which comprises administering to said human an effective nontoxic antiaggression amount of 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]-carbazole, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 23. The method of claim 22 in which the amount is 1 to 30 mg/kg of bodyweight calculated as base.
 24. The method of claim 23 in which the amount is 2 to 5 mg/kg of bodyweight calculated as base.
 25. The method of claim 22, 23 or 24 in which 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole dihydrochloride hemihydrate is administered.
 26. The method of treating psychosis in a human which has been identified as exhibiting psychotic symptoms which comprises administering to said human an effective nontoxic antipsychotic amount of 9-[3-(3,5-cis-dimethylpiperazino)propyl]carbazole, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of a pharmaceutically acceptible salt thereof.
 27. The method of claim 26 in which the amount is 1 to 30 mg/kg of bodyweight calculated as base.
 28. The method of claim 27 in which the amount is 2 to 5 mg/kg of bodyweight calculated as base.
 29. The method of claim 26 in which the psychosis is schizophrenia and the amount is a nontoxic effective schizophrenia amount.
 30. The method of claim 27 or 28 in which the psychosis is schizophrenia.
 31. The method of claim 22 in which the compound is the mono or di-hydrochloride salt.
 32. The method of claim 22 in which the salt is the dihydrochloride, succinate, lactate, maleate or hydrochloride.
 33. The method of claim 22 in which an acid addition salt is administered in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 34. The method of claim 33 in which the salt is the dihydrochloride salt.
 35. The method of claim 26 in which an acid addition salt is administered in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 36. The method of claim 35 in which the salt is the dihydrochloride salt.
 37. The method of claim 26 in which the psychosis is mania.
 38. The method of claim 26 in which the psychosis is senile psychosis. 